Keep on the sunny side of life

KEEP ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE

Well there's a dark and a troubled side of life.

There's a bright and a sunny side too.

But if you meet with the darkness and strife,

The sunny side we also may view.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,

Keep on the sunny side of life.

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,

If we keep on the sunny side of life.

Oh, the storm and its fury broke today,

Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear.

Clouds and storms will in time pass away.

The sun again will shine bright and clear.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,

Keep on the sunny side of life.

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,

If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.

Let us greet with a song of hope each day.

Though the moments be cloudy or fair.

Let us trust in our Saviour always,

To keep us, every one, in His care.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,

Keep on the sunny side of life.

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,

If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.

If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.

Prayer - Armour of God

Prayer for putting on the Armour of God

"Heavenly Father, we praise and worship you because you are God.

We are honored to be your servants and we take our stand today against the devil and his schemes against us, our families and our ministries.

Father, as we take up each piece of the armor, please secure it in place on us.

1. We take up the shield of faith and extend it over ourselves. It extinguishes all the fiery darts of the evil one.

2. We put on the helmet of salvation, which protects our mind from the enemy's attacks. We have the mind of Christ."

3. We put on the breastplate of righteousness, which covers our bodies with the righteousness of God. In Christ, every foothold of evil has been washed away and we are clothed in righteousness!

4. We gird our loins with the belt of truth. Your word, O God, is truth. Father, sanctify us according to your word and remind us through the Holy Spirit of the truth that destroys the lies of sin.

5. We shod our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. We have peace with God through the blood of Jesus. We have favor with God and with man. We walk in our inheritance as an adopted son of God and have authority over evil in Jesus' name.

6. We will use the Sword of the Spirit by speaking the Word of God as it applies to whatever situation we may face today. Father, please remind us of your Word via the Holy Spirit.

We will continue throughout the day & night praying in the Spirit, and we believe that the Holy Spirit is interceding on our behalf according to our prayers.

Thank you, Father, for the whole armor of God. Please surround us with your hedge of protection as we move forward on the spiritual battlefield today and every other days. We praise and worship you now and forever. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.

His Name is called Wonderful

God can do wonders, that's why HIS name is called WONDERFUL.

A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was 'too crowded'.

'I can't go to Sunday School,' she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: 'This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.'
For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion.
He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there...
A newspaper learned of the story and published It. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.
When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.

Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide.Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where thousands of students are educated.
Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, 'Acres of Diamonds'.

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

The God Factor

Nearly everyone in the world experiences problems, financial troubles & trying situations at one time or another, but some people deal with it better than others. What makes the difference is often not so much these people’s circumstances, but to whom they turn for help. The secret to overcoming any problem or obstacle in life is: Do what you can do, and then rely on the “God factor.”

What is the God factor?

Isaiah 55:9 says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

In making our plans we must remember that God is in control of the situation, that it's His work, and that He is able to change hearts and situations and make things happen that are far beyond our abilities. That's the "God factor."

What seems logical to the human mind often takes on a different perspective when the God factor comes into play. The God factor is that extra factor in the equation which defies even the laws of nature and makes the impossible possible.

The God factor means standing on God’s promises. It means trusting in Him, believing that nothing is impossible with Him. It means that He’s able to supply all your needs. It means that faith in Him overrides all impossibilities.

God is in the heavenly realm, but He works in the real world. He deals not just in spiritual blessings and rewards, but in tangible, black-and-white, dollars-and-cents material blessings and rewards as well. He's the God of Heaven, and also the God of this present world. He transcends both, rules in both, lives in both, dominates both‚ creates in both, and has the power to pay us in both currencies.

We need to learn to trust Him for the material things that we need—not just our spiritual needs like happiness, purpose, and peace of mind. He's just as powerful‚ just as capable, and just as willing to give us the tangible, practical blessings we need. He has no problem or qualm about pulling cold‚ hard cash out of His pocket for us, if we'll only have the faith to receive it. We need to not limit God in our minds, but realize that His influence is all encompassing and that He is capable of performing miracles in both the spiritual and physical realms. He can and will give us both spiritual and material blessings, and we all need a whole lot of both.

God has given us some amazing promises in His Word. These promises are for real. They have been given to us by our truthful God who never lies. He doesn't exaggerate. He doesn't pump up His promises to lift Himself up or to make us feel good. He gives us His promises because He wants us to believe and claim them as our own, so He can give us all of the great things He has in store for us.

They're not fake promises, but each one is conditional. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). "Give and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38). "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). They're each dependent on us fulfilling our part of the bargain, which nearly always comes down to keeping His two great commandments: Love God, and love our neighbors as we do ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). But if we do our part, they are guaranteed to come to pass—not necessarily in the way we want or think they will, but in God's time and way. Like a wise and loving parent, He always knows what's best for us and is happy to give it to us. That's the God factor.

--Adapted from an article by Peter Amsterdam

Oasis of Peace

Six Steps of Meditative Prayer.

Step 1: Choose an appropriate location. Most people find that meditation is best in quiet, uncluttered surroundings, ideally away from where they work or spend most of their waking hours. A secluded spot outside can be especially conducive. Fresh air not only renews us physically, but it also illustrates God's Spirit that is able to clear our minds and spirits.

Step 2: Take time to wind down. It's impossible to immediately go from the affairs of a busy day into a state of deep meditative prayer. There needs to be a time of transition, a time of phasing out the material world. Sometimes it helps to spend a few minutes on a transitional activity, such as listening to soothing music, taking a short walk, or breathing deeply. As you try different things, you'll find what works best for you.

Step 3: Leave your cares at the door. If problems are weighing you down, they'll keep you from the peace you could receive from meditation. Take a minute or two (or as long as it takes) to give your present cares to Jesus in prayer. Be specific. Describe to Him what is troubling you, and ask Him to lift and bear it. Focus on God's ability to bring solutions, rather than the problems themselves. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (1 Philippians 4:6-7).

Step 4: Get relaxed. Several minutes of gentle stretches and deep breathing, followed by a relaxation exercise (concentrate on relaxing your face and neck, then your entire body, part by part) can help. If you're feeling especially tense, a shower or a bath or a short walk in nature might help you relax. Or if you're very tired, a nap may be just the thing, because as long as you're exhausted, you probably won't get much out of your time of meditation.

Step 5: Select a comfortable position. In meditation, the position of your spirit matters much more than the position of your body. You don't have to sit a certain way—or even sit, for that matter—except of course you should be comfortable, so that doesn't become a distraction. Whatever position you choose, it should allow you to maintain good posture, because this facilitates deep breathing and good circulation of the blood.

Step 6: Meditate. You've found an appropriate spot and wound down physically. You've put your problems and cares into Jesus' very capable hands. You've disconnected from the affairs of the day, and are relaxed and comfortable. Now you're ready to begin a time of focused meditation.

You might choose to focus on Jesus Himself, thinking about one of His attributes, or on some special blessing He has brought into your life. A specific thought from God's Word can also be a subject for meditation. Reading a passage from the Bible, or some other short devotional material may help get you started.

Let your mind rest. Don't analyze. Just relax and concentrate on quieting your body, mind, and spirit. Think of this type of meditation as being like learning to float in water. It takes that amount of relaxation of both body and spirit for God's Spirit to take over and give you the "buoyancy" you need. If you struggle or try to poke your head up to see what's happening around you, the balance will be upset and you'll break your connection with Him. Whereas if you will just lie back, stop struggling, focus on relaxing every muscle in your body, and shut out the noise of the world and every thought except the one you're meditating on, God's Spirit will hold you up perfectly. It's a wonderful feeling!

"Peace I leave with you," Jesus promised. "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you" (John 14:27). Let Him carry you away to the peaceful haven He has prepared for you.

Resting in Jesus brings comfort and peace that nothing can replace. It's Jesus touching you.

Author: Unknown